Barnard Marcus pots star lot

West-Hill-300pxThe home of snooker legend Jimmy “The Whirlwind” White was the star lot sold at Barnard Marcus’s 14 April auction, which racked up a total of £20.5m.

The former Masters champion’s five-bedroom house in West Hill, Epsom, Surrey, sold for £645,000 – almost 10% over the £595,000 asking price.

It was one of 123 out of 177 lots sold – a 70% success rate.

White had lived in the property, which occupies a 0.23-acre site and has scope for extensions subject to planning, for more than 14 years.

The house was bought by a private owner-occupier, one of several such sales on the day.

The day’s highest price was for a mixed-use retail and residential investment opportunity in Camden, NW1, which was snapped up for £1.2m following competitive bidding.

The 1,300 sq ft property, at 3a Camden Road, comprises a ground floor shop with a self-contained one-bedroom flat and maisonette above.

It is vacant, and has development potential subject to planning.

The buyer plans to run a business from the premises.

The Salvation Army offered a semi-detached house, arranged as two two-bedroom flats. It was guided at £595,000, with bidding starting at £575,000.

The property, at 26 Regina Road, Ealing, W13, was sold to a private owner-occupier for 25% above the guide price at £740,000.

Mountview Estates offered two lots. The first, a two-bedroom, first-floor flat at 9 Cherry Orchard, Bromley, Kent, that is in need of refurbishment, was guided at £215,000 but sold to an owner-occupier for 58% above the guide at £340,000.

Mountview also offered a two-bedroom terraced house in Greenwich, SE10, that sold for £562,000, more than £100,000 above the guide price, to an owner-occupier.

Chris Glenn, managing director at Barnard Marcus, said: “The auction room remains popular with owner-occupiers who value the certainty of their purchase and ability to access property not available elsewhere.

“I saw no hesitation from buyers due to the forthcoming election. In fact it was quite the opposite, with buyers seeking a safe haven for their money and taking advantage of low interest rates.”

The auction took place at Grand Connaught Rooms, WC2.

amber.rolt@estatesgazette.com